Anritsu has passed the world’s first PCS Type Certification Review Board tests covering selected radio-frequency conformance cases for 5G New Radio non-terrestrial networks, marking a milestone for satellite-enabled 5G devices and their path to commercial deployment.
The Japanese test and measurement group said today that its New Radio RF Conformance Test System, the ME7873NR, had achieved PTCRB certification for NR NTN test cases using Samsung’s NR NTN modem chipset. The certification is regarded as a formal starting point for large-scale device approval in a segment expected to underpin future global 5G coverage.
Non-terrestrial networks integrate satellite and airborne platforms with terrestrial infrastructure, using satellites in low Earth, medium Earth, and geostationary orbits. Under 3GPP Release 17, NR NTN brings these systems into the 5G New Radio standards, allowing devices to connect to satellites using the same protocols as conventional base stations.
Industry executives say this approach could extend mobile broadband and IoT connectivity to remote areas beyond the reach of ground-based networks. The definition of PTCRB test cases for NR NTN is seen as a prerequisite for operator adoption, enabling handset makers and module suppliers to certify products for commercial networks.
Anritsu said it would support the rollout by supplying certification test systems to manufacturers and test houses. Its ME7873NR platform is compliant with 3GPP standards and already certified by both the Global Certification Forum and the PTCRB for terrestrial 5G testing. The system supports sub-6 GHz frequencies as standard and can be combined with a compact antenna test range chamber to enable millimetre-wave testing.
The company, founded more than 130 years ago, provides communications test and measurement equipment used across research, manufacturing, and network operations. It employs about 3,500 people in more than 90 countries and has positioned itself as a supplier of tools supporting emerging technologies, including 5G, machine-to-machine communications, and the internet of things.
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